Container



Nov. 7, 1944. R NYDEN 2,361,958

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 21, 1941 INV NT OR.

' H @FA/frs Patented Nov. 7, -1944 2,361,958 CONTAINER Robert Nyden,Manhasset, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y.-,. acorporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 1941, Serial No.407,835

This invention relates in general to containers which are closed bymeans of a friction plug and more particularly to `a novel friction plugconstruction which is adapted for easy opening and for dispensing of thecontents of containers.

.An object of the invention is the provision of a novel improvedfriction plug closure for friction top containers which is adapted totightly close the friction ring opening of such containers. therebyproviding a tight seal, and which may may be readily moved from itstight frictional engagement with the friction ring. into differentdispensing positions, without any special opening tool by pressure upona portion of the friction plug such as mere finger pressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a friction plugconstruction which has a novel fulcrum projection formed integrally withthe friction plug, which projection is adapted to rock upon the frictionring when a portion of the plug is depressed, thereby raising anotherportion of the plug to move the same into a desired dispensing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a friction plugconstruction which may be provided with one or more dispensing openingswhich are sealed when the plug is in properly closed position and whichmay be exposed for dispensing when the plug is rocked upon the saidfulcrum projection.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such afriction top construction having the enumerated and other advantageswhich may be economically produced by simple die or rolling operationson readily available equipment.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a substantially rectangular or oblongtype of friction top container showing one exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the plug showing a pouring opening in oneend portion of the friction seat wall.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the plug showing the fulorum projection andstop lug projection.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the container top of Fig. 1showing the friction plug pressed inwardly at one end and raised at theopposite end to expose a pouring opening, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-556)Fig. 4 and showing the friction plug depressed at the pouring openingend and raised at the opposite end to expose sifter openings.

Referring in more detail to the preferred embodiment of the inventionexemplified in the drawing, Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate a ilbre body IIwhich is closed at the bottom by means of a sheet metal end member I2permanently crimped thereto. To the top marginal edge of the body I I iscrimped a sheet metal end member or annular friction ring I3 in apermanent joint or seam I4. Inward of the joint I4 the ring I3 comprisesa vertical wall which closely hugs the inner surface of the body IIuntil it merges into a substantially horizontal countersink or panel I5,which preferably includes an inner raised wall portion I6 to provide anannular bearing portion or ridge. Thence the metal of the ring is bentdownwardly at substantially a right angle to the raised wall portion I6to provide a depending friction seat wall I1 terminating in a raw edgeI8.

A dish shaped friction plug closure element or shell I9 is adapted tofit tightly within the opening defined by the depending wall l1 of thering to provide atop seal. The friction plug I9 'is preferably a onepiece shell of inverted dish shape and stamped or rolled or otherwiseformed out of sheet metal and comprises a suitably panelled closed topwall 2l which merges Into a curved depending friction seat wall 23 whichterminates in an annular bottom edge portion 24. The curved wall 23 hasits largest diameter at its center between the top and bottom edges andgradually tapers into smaller diameter portions towards the top andbottom edges. The plug I9 in the preferred illustration is shown to beof oblong shape having longitudinal sides 25 which merge into rounded orcurved ends 26 and 21. The metal of the wall 23 centrally of thelongitudinal sides 25 and a shortdistance below the top wall 2l isprojected outwardly into a pair of opposed elongated rocker or fulcrumand stop beads 28 which bear upon the inner raised wall portion I6 ofthe ring I3 when the plug is in sealing position. At the curved end 26,the friction wall 23 is further provided with a substantiallyrectangular elongated pouring opening 29 and at the opposite curved end21 it is provided with a series of perforations or sifter openings 3 IThe curved top portion of the depending wall 23 above the pouringopening 23 and sifter openings 3I provides the effective friction seatwall of the plug which is adapted to seal the ring opening by a tightmetal to metal contact with the friction seat wall l1 of the ring. Themetal of the marginal bottom edge 24 of the plug wall 2l is out at fourplaces and bent outwardly to provide four corner stop lugs 32 when it isdesired to hold the plug captive in the ring opening.

Fig. 1 shows the friction plug I9 in its closed or sealing position. Insuch position the rocker and stop beads 28 rest in flat engagement withand upon the raised wall portion I8 and the l upper portion of theannular curved wall 23 frictionally engages the depending wall l1 of thering i3 providing a tight seal between friction ring and plug. When itis desired to dispense the contents from the container, pressure exertedagainst the edge of the top panel 2|, adjacent either of the curved ends26 or 21 (which may be finger pressure) will depress this end of theplug and raise the opposite end according to whether it is desired todispense the contents through the pouring opening 29 or the sifteropenings 3|. In other words, a lever or rocking movement of the plug I9upon the ring I3 takes place and is accomplished by the opposedelongated rocker and stop beads 28 of the plug rocking or fulcruming onthe ring I3, preferably upon the reenforced raised wall portion I6 ofthe ring. The curvature of the depending wail 23 of the plug assists inclearing it in its movement within the ring.

Fig. 4 shows the relative position of the plug and ring after pressureis exerted upon the top wall 2| of the plug adjacent the curved end 21.When the plug is in this position the curved end 26 is raisedsufficiently to expose the pouring opening 29 so that the contents maybe dispensed through this relatively large opening. When the plug isdepressed at the pouring opening end, as shown in Fig. 5, the sifteropening end is raised to a height sufficient to expose the sifteropenings 3| and the contents may then be dispensed through the s'ifteropenings, In either of these positions the plug is held within theopening of the friction ring by means of the stop lugs 32 hereinabovedescribed.

It is conceivable that in some cases, depending upon the nature of thecontents, it may be desirable to take advantage of the full opening ofthe friction ring to dispense the contents, in which case the stop lugs32 may be omitted and frictional engagement of the upper portion of thedepending wall 23 with the adjacent end of the depending wall Il of thering and frictional engagement of the opposed lower portion of the wall23 with the adjacent end of the depending wall of the ring may be reliedupon for holding the plug in proper pouring position.

It will be understood of course that while the ring I3 and plug I! havebeen illustrated and described as being made of sheet metal, either orboth of them may be made of any other suitable material. For instance,the plug would function in a similar manner if it were made of plastic.Also, of course, the container body, instead of being made offibre, asillustrated and described, might be made of sheet metal.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages. the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

A friction plug container comprising a container body having an endmember secured thereto, said end member having an annular dependingfriction seat wall defining an opening, a tiltable friction plug seatedwithin and normally closing said opening when the plug is in horizontalpo sition, said plug having an annular depending friction seat wallsealingly engaging the friction seat wall of said end member, adispensing opening in said friction seat wall of said plug, said plugalso having a pair of opposed substantially ilat elongated fulcrumprojections disposed at intermediate peripheral portions thereof forpivotal engagement against the outer surface of said end member, saidopposed fulcrum projections being located on said plug friction seatwall in a horizontal plane spaced vertically above the upper edge ofsaid dispensing opening so that the container will be sealed when theplug is in normal substantially horizontal position on and relative tosaid end member. said dispensing opening of the plug being elevated andexposed for dispensing the container contents therethrough when pressureis exerted on the plug at a point opposite to said dispensing opening torock said plug on its said fulcrum projections on and relative to saidend member.

ROBERT NYDEN.

